Balloon with integral tie



Feb. 25, 1958 A. G. EBEL 2,824,407

BALLOON WITH INTEGRAL TIE Filed June 27. 1956 INVENTOR.

United States Patent BALLOON WITH INTEGRAL TIE Adolf G. Ebel, Ravenna, Ohio, assignor to The Oak Rubber Company, Ravenna, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 27, 1956, Serial No. 594,259

2 Claims. (Cl. 46-90) This invention relates to improvements in balloons with integral ties. The tying of the neck of an inflated toy balloon by a single person presents difiiculty. Ordinarily the tie is a piece of string both ends of which must be held by the operator while he also holds the neck of the balloon. To many people this seems to be practically impossible. If one end of the tie were fastened to the neck of the balloon the difliculty would, of course, be correspondingly lessened.

Also, it is obviously advantageous to have a tie supplied as an integral part of the balloon so that it is always ready and convenient when needed.

One of the objects of the invention, therefore, is to provide a rubber tie attached to the neck of a balloon.

Another object is to form the rubber tie as an integral part of the balloon.

Still another object is the provision of a hollow tie formed simultaneously with the formation of the balloon by the dipping in latex of a form including a projecting rod of small diameter to which the latex adheres, so that after the article is cured and stripped from the form a hollow tie integral with the neck of the balloon is present and conveniently available for use when needed.

Another object is the provision of a form with a wire or rod attachment which results in the production of an integral tie.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing a toy balloon form, constructed in accordance with the invention, immersed in a tank of latex;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the form inverted after a film of latex has attached itself to the form, the form removed from the tank and the end portion of the neck rolled up to form the usual bead;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the article after it has been cured or vulcanized and then stripped from the form; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmental view of the inflated balloon after the tie has been stretched, wound around the neck of the balloon and fastened.

Referring to the drawing, represents a fragment of a tank containing latex 11 or the like. Over the top of the tank there may be supported a rigid bar 12 from which depend a series of balloon forms. One such form is shown at 13. It may be a solid piece of metal of 2,824,407 Patented Feb. 25, 1958 pear shape approximately, formed and dimensioned to correspond with the desired balloon in its uninflated condition.

In the neck portion 14 of the form 13 there is drilled a small diameter hole which may be tapped to receive the threaded inner end of a rod 15. After the rod is tightly in place and before the form is immersed in latex for the first time, the rod 15 is sharply bent so that its outer end 16 is disposed lengthwise along and aimed .toward the balloon portion of the form. The form, or

the series of forms depending from the bar 12, are permitted to remain in the latex for a short time of predetermined length until a coating 17 of latex of the desired thickness collects on the form, when the form or forms are removed from the latex. The open end of the film of latex is then rolled up to constitute the usual bead 18, after which the coated form or forms are placed in a vulcanizer, not shown, and cured.

Each cured article is then stripped from its mold by conventional means which may include air under pressure, yielding a continuous flexible rubber article substantially as shown in Fig. 3, which in addition to the balloon 17' and its neck 18 includes a hollow tie 19. The tie is quite slender, i. e., it is of an outside diameter of the order of A; of an inch, and is stretchable to a length several times its normal length. The bend in the rod facilitates the stripping of the cured latex film.

The balloon after inflation is indicated at 20 in Fig. 4. After inflation is effected the operator may pinch the outer end of the neck between a thumb and finger, after which he grasps the tie 19 with his other hand, stretches it out considerably, winds it around the neck of the balloon, several times preferably, and ties it in a single knot. In other words, the end of the tie is pulled under a stretched loop of the tie where it is held by the elasticity of the stretched tie. The effectiveness of the tie fastened in this manner is excellent; that is, leakage is entirely prevented. At the same time the fastening of the tie is relatively easy.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A rubber balloon having a neck, and an integral hollow rubber tie in communication with the interior of the neck and extending outwardly therefrom, said tie being closed at its outer end and being adapted to be stretched, wound around said neck and fastened after the balloon is inflated to seal the balloon against the leakage of air.

2. A balloon form adapted to be immersed in a pool of latex, said form comprising a balloon portion and a neck portion, and a rod of small diameter anchored in said neck portion and extending outwardly therefrom, the projecting part of said rod being bent substantially parallel to the neck portion and toward the balloon portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 30, 1927 

